Inspections to Carry Out to Prevent Water Damage

Posted on:
10 March 2017

When it comes to building inspections, homeowners typically tend to consider them if they are either buying or selling a property. Nevertheless, it is crucial to take the time to inspect your property from time to time to ensure that any risks being posed to the structural damage of the property are caught early and fixed. Water damage is one of the primary risks that you would come across. By carrying out an inspection of your home and your home's plumbing, you will be able to determine if you require new waterproofing or if some physical repairs have to be done and you also prevent permanent damage from occurring to the property. So what are some of the inspections that you could carry out to establish if your property has been exposed to water damage?

Inspect your walls

One of the first places that you will notice the signs of water damage are your walls. This damage will typically manifest in the form of staining on your walls. The stains could originate from either the top or the bottom of the wall and this would signal where the water is coming from. You should also take the time to inspect around the frames of both your doors and windows for signs of water damage. Water stains on your walls should be taken seriously, as it could be an indication of an undetected leak within your walls. This could lead to you having to contend with a burst pipe since the early signs were not addressed. Other symptoms to look for when inspecting your walls include peeling paint, mildew, swollen surfaces and more.

Inspect your floors

Another common sign of water damage is compromised flooring. This could happen due to either a porous top layer of flooring or a compromised substrate due to water ingress from the bottom. Some of the signs of water damage in your flooring include warping, especially if you have timber floorboards. You should also be wary of any weird dark-colored stains on your flooring, as it could be indicative of mould growing in your flooring.

Inspect your pipes

Since pipes are usually hidden, not many people consider inspecting them. However, these inspections are crucial, especially if you live in an older home. Older pipes have the propensity of corroding over time, and this makes them susceptible to cracks and holes. If not replaced in good time, they will eventually break. It would be prudent to have a professional plumber routinely inspect your piping to prevent the risk of severe water damage down the road.